Epple Veterans with Disabilities bow hunt scheduled

The 10th annual Lt. Col Ted Epple Veterans with Disabilities bow hunt will take place next weekend (Nov. 2-4) staged out of the AFL-CIO Laborers Hall on 4580 South Dixie Highway in Lima.

Meet and greet takes place Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. with two hunts scheduled for Saturday and a morning hunt on Sunday.

Friday’s program includes registration of hunter and guides, mandatory pictures, going over rules and expectations and each hunt leader going over instructions for the weekend’s hunts.

A light breakfast of donuts, fruit and breakfast bars takes placed from 5-6 a.m. with the morning hunt beginning at legal shooting time. Check-in is at 11 a.m. followed by lunch. The evening hunt begins after lunch and ends 30 minutes after sunset. Supper and a program conclude Saturday’s events.

Sunday’s events begin with another light breakfast followed by a morning hunt which ends at 11 a.m. There will a lunch where hosts, sponsors and volunteers are introduced.

Anyone having questions on weekend’s events should contact Joe Sawmiller at 419-204-2805.

* * *

I always enjoy reading the monthly cuffs and collars put out by the Ohio Division of Wildlife (DOW) concerning incidents involving wildlife officers from around the state. The recent one includes three Limaland wildlife officers.

Most of us despise fishing around littered areas. A wanton case of littering ended in a citation from Auglaize County Wildlife Officer Mark Schemmel. While checking fishing license compliance at Grand Lake St. Marys, Schemmel, noticed an individual fishing at one of the rock piers in an area popular among catfish anglers along the lake’s Eastern shore. He observed the angler tossing an empty Styrofoam worm container and an empty shrimp bag down into the rip-rap.

Schemmel issued a summons to the angler for littering shortly after observing the littering act. The individual appeared in the Auglaize County Municipal Court and was found guilty of the charge. He was ordered to pay $181.20 in fines and court costs.

Sometimes you wonder why people perform illegal acts - like using poison to kill wildlife.

Recently, Logan County Wildlife Officer Adam Smith received a complaint of possible trapping violations taking place on private property. Smith found two untagged foot encapsulating traps along with a bucket of suspected poison upon his investigation of the the area.

The wildlife officer Smith later identified the person responsible for setting the poison and traps and issued him a summons for using poison to kill wildlife. The man was found guilty in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court and paid a total of $210 in fines and court costs.

There are times when people breaking the law are in multiple trouble.

Such was the case last July Fourth weekend when Putnam County During the Fourth of July weekend when Putnam County Wildlife Officer Jason Porinchok cited a woman for fishing without a license. She was fishing alone at the Ottawa Reservoir and when Porinchok checked the database to see if she had a fishing license, it revealed she did not have a 2018 fishing license.

While verifying her identity for the citation, the wildlife officer also discovered she had a warrant for her arrest from the Bowling Green Municipal Court. In addition to receiving a citation for fishing without a license, she was transported to the Wood County Jail.

On her assigned court date in Putnam County, Porinchok noticed that the defendant was not present in court. He contacted the woman and escorted her to court, where she pleaded guilty and paid $200 in fines and court costs.

* * *

Three Lima area bass anglers closed out the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) in the regional championship on Kentucky and Barkley lakes a week ago. The fishing was tough with few limits checked in each day.

Findlay’s Wilson Burton finished 40th among boaters while Jay Ellis, of Celina, was 52nd. Burton caught one bass each of the first two days and would up weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Ellis did not catch a fish the first day, but caught 3 the second day that weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces. On the co-angler side, Michael Kokoska, of Findlay, did not catch a fish.

* * *

Ohio’s small game season begins Friday. As part of the season several thousand ring-necked pheasants will be released at 24 Ohio public hunting areas. Pheasants will be released for opening day, and prior to the Veterans Day and Thanksgiving holiday weekends.

The daily bag limit is two roosters (male) for the season, which remains open through Jan. 13, 2019. Statewide pheasant hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.

Rabbit season also opens Friday and runs through Feb. 28. The daily bag limit is four. Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.

* * *

Hunters who would like to learn how to field dress and butcher a deer can attend a free workshop from 6-9:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 in Antwerp. It will be held at the Antwerp Conservation Club located at 17814 Road 53, Antwerp 45813.

Although the workshop is free, pre-registration is required by Nov. 9 since space is limited. Interested individuals can register by calling Andrea Altman at 419-429-8321.

Trained professionals from the DOW and Antwerp Conservation Club will partner to cover topics including field dressing, skinning, and butchering. This workshop is hands-on and portions will be held outdoors. Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for the workshop and for the weather.